Steam-trap.



No. 736,842 PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

T. 'J. GRACE.

I STEAM TRAP.

APPLIOATION 11.31) NOV. 22, 1902. no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 lgaegfem;

K0 MODEL.

' PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. -T.J.'GRAGE.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLIUATION rmm now. 22, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT Z.

lgazgiovx f. 1 Jhfovgcys' UNITE STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

S EAM -T;RAP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No; 736,842, dated August 18, 1903.

Application filed lTovember 22,1902. statin 125,470. on model.)

of condensation from steam-pipes, andhas for its principal object to provide a device of this character in which the accumulated water will be discharged without permitting the escape of any steam.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the water is first admitted to a main chamber and thence as it accumulates allowed to flow into a secondary chamber, from which it is automat ically discharged by a float-actuated valve.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that ,various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a steam: trap constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar viewof the upper portion of the same, illustrating the parts in a difierent position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the trap. Fig. 4: is asectional elevation of a portion of the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view ofone of the valves.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the main tank of the trap, comprising a closed casing having a cap or cover 11, held in position by pivoted eyebolts 12 in order to permit theready removal of the cover for examination and repairs.

15 designates a T- coupling connected in the'main steam-pipe 16,1eading from the boiler to the engine or to any form of steam-pipe from which water of condensation is to be removed. The vertical branch of the T is conn'ctea bya pipe 17 to the bottom of the tank 10, and in order to prevent the passage of any water with the steam beyond the pipe 17 the upper member of the T- is curved or angular, so that its opposite ends are coupled to the steanrpipe in diiferentvertical planes to form to some extent a shoulder or stop against which the steam may impinge without, however, reducing its pressure. The end of the pipe 17 is connected to the bottom of the tank 10, and over the top of the pipe is placed a hood 18, terminating short of the opposite sides of the tank to permit the free passage of the water from each end of the hood, ,the hood acting to break the force of the jet of water and prevent the accidental movement of the valve-float 19.

In the upper portion ofthetank 1O isa casing 20, forming a secondary chamber for the reception of the water from the tank 10. At one end of the casing 20 is an enlongated cylindrical chamber 21, having two partitions T 22, dividing the same into three different compartments, of which theouter compartments fare in communication with the secondary chamber, while :the central compartment 23 communicates with awater-discharge pipe 24, through which the water of; condensation is Qdischarged either continuously or at interlvals, depending on the rapidity with which it accumulates. At each end of the cylinder 21is a preferably concaved valve-seat 25, through which extends a plurality of ports or passages 26, and on each valve-seat is placed a convexed disk-valve 27, secured to a valvestem 28, having a bearing at one end in an opening formed in the center of the valveseat, and at the opposite end in a bracket 29, secured to the end of the cylinder. The bracket 29 is provided with a threaded open- .ing for the reception of an adjusting-sorew 30, bearing against the end of the valve-stem 28 in order to keep the valve tightly to its seat and permit the necessary adjustment to compensate for wear of the valve-faces.-

The two valve-stems 28 are provided ,with radiating arms 31, connected at their outer ends by a crossbar 32, from which depends the float 19, so that as the water accumulates in the tank and the float rises the valves will be opened and permit the passage of water through the cylinder and its ports into the auxiliary chamber 20, the float being weighted in such manner that it will not be raised sufficiently to open the valve until the level of water is above the top of said valve and will auxiliary casing, the walls of the opening being flared to form a valve-seat for the reception of a valve 35, mounted on a guided valvestem 36. The end of the valve-stem is connected by a link 37 to a vertically-disposed pivoted lever 38, having a bifurcated lower end for the reception of the cranked portion of a transversely-disposed rock-shaft 39. The rock-shaft extends through stuffing-boxes 40 at opposite sides of the casing 20, and at each end is provided with a curved rocker-arm 42, having at its upper end a laterally-projecting lug 43, extending over the arms 31, leading from the valve-stems 2S, and the lugs are threaded for the reception of vertically-disposed bolts 44, which maybe adjusted to regulate the opening movement of the valve 35.

In the operation of the device allof the valves being closed the water-of condensation is allowed to enter through the pipe 17, its force being checked by the hood 18. WVhen the water rises to a point above the valves 27, the float is elevated and opens said valves 27, permitting the water to enter the auxiliary chamber 20, and the float descends before the waterlevel is lowered to the top of the valve, so that under no circumstances can steam enter the auxiliary chamber. As the float rises and falls during successive opening movements of the valves the water will accumulate in both the primary and the auxiliary chambers until the float is elevated to such extent that the arms 31 raise said arms 42 and cause the cranked portion of the rock-shaft 39 to actuate the lever 38 and open the valve 35. The accumulated water in the auxiliary reservoir is then forced out through the dischargepipe 24 by the pressure of steam in the main tank, the discharge continuing until the water-level is reduced sufficiently to permit the float to descend and allow the valve to close, the closing movement taking place in advance of the closing movement of the valves 27, so that water is allowed to pass into the auxiliary chamber after the discharge therefrom has ceased.

At the top of the main tank is an air-cock 50 to .permit the escape of air when the apparatus is started into operation, and at the bottom of the tank is a suitable drainagecock 52.

It will be observed that the construction and operation are such as to absolutely prevent the escape of steam through the discharge-pipe 24, so that no waste of steam can occur from this source.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. The combination in a steam-trap, of a pair of closed chambers connected by avalved opening, a drain-pipe connected to the closed initial or main chamber and discharging steam and water thereinto, an automatic valve for controlling the passage of water through said valved opening from the main to the auxiliary chamber, a secondary valve for controlling the discharge of the water from the auxiliary chamber, and means for successively opening and closing the valves.

2. The combination in a steam-trap, of a closed main chamber, a closed auxiliary chamber, an automatic valve for controlling the passage of Water from the main to the auxiliary chamber, an automatic valve for controlling the discharge of water from the auxiliary chamber, and a common operating means for successively operating said valves.

3. The combination in a steam-trap, of a closed main chamber, a closed auxiliary chamber connected therewith, an automatic valve for controlling the passage of water from the main to the auxiliary chamber, a second valve for controlling the discharge of water from the auxiliary chamber, and a float adapted to actuate the first valve to maintain the passage between the chambers open only when the water-level is above the top of said passage.

4. The combination in a steam-trap, of a closed main chamber, a closed auxiliary chamber, a valve for the passage of water between the two, a float connected to the water-valve,

a valved discharge-opening leading from the auxiliary chamber, and means for connecting the valve of the discharge-opening to said float to permit the opening thereof after the opening movement of the first valve and its closing movement before the closing movement of said first valve.

5. The combination in a steam-trap, of a closed main chamber, a closed auxiliary chamber, a valved opening between the two chambers, a valved water-discharge opening leading from the auxiliary chamber, and a float common to both valves and adapted to open the valve between the two chambers in advance of the opening movement of the discharge-valve and to close said discharge-valve in advance of the closing movement of the first-named valve.

6. The combination in a steam-trap, of the main chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a cylinder in communication with the auxiliary chamber, and provided at its opposite ends with ported valve-seats, disk-valves adapted to said seats, guided valve-stems secured to said disk-stems, radiating arms secured to the valve-stems, a transverse bar connecting said arms, a float depending from the transverse bar, a discharge-port leading from the auxiliary chamber, a valve for closing said discharge-port, a rock-shaft having an operative connection with said valve, a pair of rocker-arn1s connected to the rock-shaft, and lugs projecting from said arms and adapted seats, disk-valves adapted to said seats,

guided valve-stems carrying said disk-valves, brackets carried by the cylinder and provided with threaded openings, adjustable screws adapted to said openings and bearing against the ends of the valve-stems, float-carrying arms extending from the valve-stems,-a float secured to said arms, a discharge -port leadingfrom the auxiliary chamber, a valve for closing said port, a rook-shaft having an operative connection with said valve, and a pair of arms connected to said rock-shaft and having lugs for engagement with the float-carrying arms, substantially as specified. l

S. The combination in a steam-trap, of the main tank, a pipe connected to the bottom of the tank to convey the Water of condensation thereto, a hood covering the mouth of the pipe extending to points adjacent to the opposite sides of the chamber, an auxiliary chamber situated Within and communicating with the main tank, an automaticvalve governing communication between the two chambers, a discharge-pipe leading from the auxiliary chamher, and an automatic valve for controlling the flow of Water from the auxiliary chamber through said discharge-pipe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two-Witnesses.

THOMAS J. GRACE,

Witnesses JNO. P. CAREY, SIDNEY S. PUGH. 

